Refrigerator



D. REIN REFRIGERATOR July 3, 1934.

Filed Dec. 5, 1931 IPlL S14/vento@ ma QV Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTY OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a refrigerator.

An object of the invention is to provide, in a refrigerator, means for retaining the cold air therein when the door closingA the food compartments thereof is opened.

As at present constructed the food compartments of the ordinary refrigerator are closed by a single door, or shutter, and when this door is opened the accumulated cold air is permitted to pour out and the compartments ll with air of a higher temperature and the ice, or other refrigerant in the refrigerator, must be expended to bring this air of higher temperature to the desired low temperature thus resulting in a waste of the refrigerant.

It is an object of the invention to provide a refrigerator having separate food compartments equipped with independent closures to the end that when one of the compartments is opened the others will remain closed and thus reduce the loss of cold air in the refrigerator when the main door is opened.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction arrangement of parts and use, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the refrigerator, showing the food compartment door in open position.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged fragmentary horizoiital sectional view, and

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a food compartment shelf..

Referring now-more particularly to the drawing. wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1 designates the refrigerator as a whole having 4 anice compartment 2 which may be closed by the door 3. Alongside the ice compartment there is a food compartment 4 which may be divided into smaller compartments by the series of shelves 5 arranged one above the other. Each shelf may be constructed in any selected manner. As shown, each shelf comprises a rectangular framework 6 which supports foraminated material 'I forming a support for the contents of the compartment above. At its outer end each framework 6 is 5 formed into the vertical side loops 8 to receive a transverse panel 9 preferably of glass. 'Ihese panels 9, when in closed position, completely close the food compartment 4 in front and prevent the escape of the cold air therefrom even when in the main door 10 is open.

The inner ends of the shelves 5 have the eyes 11, 11 which run on the side tracks 12, 12 located within the compartment 4 and secured to the side walls thereof.

Each panel 9 may be provided with means (Cl. S12- 188) whereby the corresponding shelf may be pulled out. As shown this means consists of a linger hole 13.

When it is desired to gain access to the contents of a shelf, the shelf may be pulled open, and when in open position will rest on the transverse supporting bar 14 underneath and will thereby be maintained in horizontal position. While any particular shelf is in withdrawn, or open, position, the other shelves will remain closed by their.

broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. InA a refrigerator having a food compartment,va transverse supporting bar across the front side of the compartment, a shelf slidable into and out of the compartment and having side bearings in alignment with said bar, side tracks located within said compartment and spaced from the side walls thereof and whose ends are secured to the corresponding side walls, said bearings being movable along the corresponding tracks, said shelf being formed with a framework whose outer end is formed into vertical side loops, a panel in said loops and supported thereby, said cross bar forming a support for the shelf when the shelf is in its outer position and said side loops forming a close lit against the sides of the compartment when the shelf is in itsminner position.

2. A refrigerator having a compartment therein separated by a plurality of shelves arranged one above the other, each shelf having a framework whose outer end is formed with upstanding side loops, vertical panels in said respective loops and supported thereby and completely closing the compartment when the shelves are in their inner or closed position. side tracks located within the compartment and spaced from the side walls thereof and whose ends are secured to said side walls, bearings carried by and depending from the margins of each shelf which move on said tracks, said tracks being located to support the margins of the corresponding shelves when the shelves are in closed position and cross bars being arranged to support the shelves when the shelves are in outer position.

DONALD REIN. 

